Issue №: 1 (132)
The journal presents the results of scientific research and addresses current issues in the development and improvement of agricultural equipment and technologies, particularly in the design, production, and operation of machines and technical systems in the agro-industrial complex, including aspects of their efficient functioning.
EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON THE DESIGN OF A STRAW MULCH PICKUP USING THE TECHNOLOGY OF GROWING POTATOES ON THE FIELD SURFACE
Roman KYRYCHENKO – Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Agricultural Engineering of the State Biotechnological University (44 Alchevskikh St., Kharkiv, Ukraine, 61002, e-mail: kirichenkoromeo@btu.kharkov.ua, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7830-6956).
Mykola BAKUM – Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Agricultural Engineering of the State Biotechnological University (44 Alchevskikh St., Kharkiv, Ukraine, 61002, e-mail: bakymshm@btu.kharkov.ua, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1049-0464).
Oleksandr LUBCHENKO – Postgraduate Student of the Department of Agricultural Engineering of the State Biotechnological University (44 Alchevskikh St., Kharkiv, Ukraine, 61002, e-mail: madman13sd@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/ 0009-0000-2948-0704).
Oleksii MELNYK – Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Senior Researcher, Head of the Department of Advanced Technologies for Growing Vegetable and Melon Crops at the Institute of Vegetable and Melon Growing of the NAAS (1, Instytutska St., Selektsiyne Village, Kharkiv Region, Ukraine, 62478, e-mail: melnyk.iob@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0000–0002–0965–6116).
The article presents a new design of a straw mulch picker for the technology of growing potatoes on the field surface and the results of its experimental evaluation. The relevance of the study lies in the need to improve mechanized mulch removal before harvesting while ensuring minimal damage to potato tubers. The proposed picker is equipped with curved combined guide plates with stalk lifters, which intensify lifting and separation of the mulch layer and reduce the harmful mechanical impact on tubers located near the soil surface.
The aim of the study was to determine the influence of the height of the picker drum rakes on the completeness of mulch pickup and the level of tuber damage. Experimental studies were carried out under different adjustment parameters of the working elements. The relationship between the gap value and the main quality indicators of the technological process was established.
The results showed that the optimal gap of 4.5 cm ensures the best combination of performance indicators. Under these conditions, maximum completeness of mulch pickup was achieved together with minimal damage to potato tubers. A smaller gap increases the mechanical impact on tubers, whereas a larger one reduces the efficiency of mulch removal.
The proposed technical solution is promising for improving the technology of growing potatoes on the field surface, reducing losses and minimizing tuber injury during harvesting. It also supports a resource-saving approach to production mechanization.
It was experimentally established that the gap between the elastic drum rakes and the field surface determines a trade-off between mulch pickup completeness and tuber damage, with its optimal value ensuring efficient mulch removal while minimizing mechanical impact on the crop.
1. Spaskyi, H. V., & Trutenko, H. O. (2021). Analysis of production and consumption of vegetables and potatoes in the regions of Ukraine. Ekonomika APK, 7, 28–37. https://doi.org/10.32317/2221-1055.202107028 [in Ukrainian].
2. Onopriienko, I. M. (2016). State and prospects of regional potato growing development. Global and National Problems of Economy, 497–500. [in Ukrainian].
3. Muraviov, V. O., Melnyk, O. V., Dukhina, N. H., Semybratska, T. V., & Uriupina, L. M. (2020). Potato cultivation in the Eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine: recommendations. Vinnytsia: Tvory. [in Ukrainian].
4. Melnyk, O. V. (2023). Cultivation of food and seed potatoes in the Eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Vinnytsia: Tvory. [in Ukrainian].
5. Palamarchuk, I. I. (2013). Productivity and fruiting dynamics of zucchini under soil mulching in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe. Vegetable and Melon Growing, 59, 226–234. [in Ukrainian].
6. Zribi, W., Aragüés, R., Medina, E., & Faci, J. M. (2015). Efficiency of inorganic and organic mulching materials for soil evaporation control. Soil and Tillage Research, 148, 40–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2014.12.003 [in English].
7. Kader, M. A., Senge, M., Mojid, M. A., & Nakamura, K. (2017). Mulching type-induced soil moisture and temperature regimes and water use efficiency of soybean under rain-fed conditions in central Japan. International Soil and Water Conservation Research, 5(4), 302–308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2017.08.001 [in English].
8. Pastukhov, V. I., Bakum, M. V., Viskham, A. I., et al. (2016). Substantiation of potato cultivation technology on the field surface under a straw layer. Bulletin of KhNTUSG named after P. Vasylenko. Mechanization of Agricultural Production, 173, 5–13. [in Ukrainian].
9. Pastukhov, V. I., Kyrychenko, R. V., Bakum, M. V., et al. (2020). Substantiation of potato cultivation using Strip-Till technology. Engineering of Nature Management, 2(16), 25–32. https://doi.org/10.37700/enm.2020.2(16).25-32 [in Ukrainian].
10. Pastukhov, V., Mogilnay, O., Bakum, M., Melnyk, O., et al. (2020). Energy-efficient and ecologically friendly technology for growing potatoes under straw mulch. Ukrainian Journal of Ecology, 10(1), 317–324. https://doi.org/10.15421/2020_50 [in English].
11. Goel, L., Shankar, V., & Sharma, R. K. (2019). Investigations on effectiveness of wheat and rice straw mulches on moisture retention in potato crop. International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture, 8(Suppl. 1), 345–356. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40093-019-00307-6 [in English].
12. Pastukhov, V. I., Mogilna, O. M., Melnyk, O. V., Kyrychenko, R. V., & Bakum, M. V. (2020). Study of agrophons as a factor influencing potato cultivation on the field surface under straw mulch. In Theoretical and practical aspects of vegetable growing development in modern conditions: Proceedings of the III International Scientific and Practical Conference (Vol. 2, pp. 137–139). Vinnytsia: Tvory. [in Ukrainian].
13. Pastukhov, V., Mogilnay, O., Bakum, M., Grabar, I., et al. (2021). Potato growth in moisture deficit conditions. Ukrainian Journal of Ecology, 11(2), 184–190. https://doi.org/10.15421/2021_97. [in English].
14. Melnyk, O., et al. (2023). Study of the effectiveness of different methods of mulching potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) in the east of Ukraine. Agronomy Research, 21(3), 1221–1232. https://doi.org/10.15159/AR.23.057 [in English].
15. Pastukhov, V. I., Kyrychenko, R. V., Bakum, M. V., & Lubchenko, O. V. (2024). Substantiation of improvement of machines for potato cultivation. In Scientific Week in Kruty – 2024. Proceedings of the X International Scientific and Practical Conference (Vol. 2, pp. 185–188). Vinnytsia. [in Ukrainian].
16. Bondarchuk, A. A., & Koltunov, V. A. (Eds.). (2019). Potato growing: methodology of research. Vinnytsia: Tvory. [in Ukrainian].
About journal
The magazine "Engineering, Energy, Transport AIC" is included in the list of scientific professional editions of Ukraine on technical sciences
(Category "Б", Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine dated 02.07.2020 №886)
According to the decision of National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine from 25.04.2024 No. 1337 the scientific journal «Engineering, Energy, Transport AIC» has the ID of the Media R30-05173.
The journal "Engineering, Energy, Transport AIC" is indexed according to the following databases and catalogs:
Certificate of state registration of mass media: No. 21906-11806 P dated 03/12/2016.
Founder of the journal: Vinnytsia National Agrarian University
Type of publication: journal
Kind of publication: scientific
Publication status: domestic
Year of foundation: 1997
Periodicity: 4 times per year
Volume: 18-20 conv. print. sheet (А4)
ISSN: 2520-6168 (print version), (online version)
Language of publication: (mixed languages) Ukrainian, English
The sphere of distribution and category of readers: national, foreign, faculty, scientists, entrepreneurs.
The periodical edition is included to the List of scientific professional publications of Ukraine on technical sciences, approved by order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine in 05.16.2016, No. 515.
The journal "Engineering, Energy, Transport AIC" is included in the "Catalog of Ukrainian Publications".
Subscription to the journal can be issued in each post office. The subscription index is 99720.
Technology, energy, agriculture transport AIC is a scholarly professional journal with a long-standing history and stable academic tradition, reflecting the evolution of engineering and technical sciences within the agro-industrial sector of Ukraine.
The journal was founded in 1997 under the title Bulletin of Vinnytsia State Agricultural Institute. According to the Resolution of the Presidium of the Higher Attestation Commission of Ukraine dated September 11, 1997, the publication obtained the status of a professional scientific journal, which enabled the publication of the main results of doctoral and candidate dissertations in technical sciences. From its inception, the journal positioned itself as an academic platform for addressing current issues of mechanization, electrification, and technical support of agricultural production.
During 2001–2014, the journal was published under the title Proceedings of Vinnytsia National Agrarian University. Series: Technical Sciences (State Registration Certificate of Print Media KV No. 16644-5116 PR dated April 30, 2010). Throughout this period, a systematic approach to the selection and peer review of scientific manuscripts was established, the thematic scope of publications was expanded, and continuity of scientific directions as well as the development of sectoral engineering schools was ensured.
Since 2015, the journal has been published under its current title, Technology, energy, agriculture transport AIC (State Registration Certificate No. 21906-11806 R dated March 12, 2016). The change of title reflected the expansion of the journal’s thematic coverage and its orientation toward interdisciplinary research in mechanical engineering, energy systems, electrical engineering, transport technologies, automation, and digital solutions for the agro-industrial complex.
The journal consistently adheres to the principles of open science. All published materials are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), ensuring open access to research results provided proper attribution to the authors and the original publication is maintained.
At present, Technology, energy, agriculture transport AIC is an authoritative professional scientific journal (Category B), providing a platform for the publication of fundamental and applied research results, promoting the integration of education, science, and industry, and contributing to the advancement of engineering and technological support of the agro-industrial complex of Ukraine.
